The former deputy speaker of the House of Commons is said to have put his hands down one complainant's trousers with the man saying it is "just Nigel being drunken Nigel".

The first of seven accusers told Preston Crown Court how the "powerful" politician was acting very drunk during the alleged incident in 2002.

Prosecutor Mark Heywood QC asked the witness when he realised Evans was being sexually forward.

He told the court: "Some fingers had gone down my trousers. He was on one side of me...'Oh!' Because he had a reputation.

"It was just normal, going out having fun, and I thought, 'Oh God, he's doing it to me now'.

"It was just Nigel being drunken Nigel.

"He had definitely been drinking, he was acting very drunk and I do remember he seemed to sober up quite quickly."

The openly gay man told the court he was annoyed by Evans' actions.

"It came out of my trousers as I walked away. I did not want him to think I was interested.

"I was annoyed by it. I thought if I don't walk away I'm going to hit him."

TRIAL: Evans arriving at court yesterday [PA]

“It was just normal, going out having fun, and I thought, 'Oh God, he's doing it to me now'.”

A witness

Yesterday the court heard how Evans had "embarrassed" one complainant by putting his hands down his trousers twice at a bar in a similar alleged incident.

He was also accused of using his political influence to press his "sexual attentions on younger men".

Evans, 56, is accused of nine charges against seven men including two counts of indecent assault, six of sexual assault and one of rape.

The alleged incidents date from January 1 2002 to April 1 last year.

The Swansea-born independent MP was charged with the offences in September last year and was forced to resign as deputy to Commons Speaker John Bercow, who is married to former Celebrity Big Brother contestant Sally Bercow.

Mr Bercow and fellow MPs are named on the list of prosecution witnesses for the crown.